Objective: Preliminary data from a treatment study for Mild Cognitive Impairment assess the ability of cerebral blood flow measures to detect medication effects. This study evaluates functional brain activity using [15O]water PET imaging during a verbal recall task, as well as with an acetazolamide challenge test to determine cerebrovascular reserve capacity (CVR) and understand its relationship to cognitive function. Methods: Participants were selected with MCI in the absence of prominent medical illness or psychiatric disorder. [15O]water PET imaging was obtained during a baseline counting task, a verbal memory task and during a vasodilatory challenge with acetazolamide. Vascular reserve was estimated by calculating the percentage increase from pre-acetazolamide global cerebral blood flow (CBF). Results: The associations between the magnitude of cognitive impairment, CBF during a verbal recall task, and CVR are presented here from a pilot sample of persons with MCI. Discussion: Assessment of functional imaging measures in the context of MCI will help identify physiologic factors associated with cognitive decline and may provide a means for exploring new treatments. CVR assessment may have utility as an outcome measure. Finally, the importance of using quantitative flow measures is emphasized here, with evidence to suggest that physiologic changes induced by anxiety may interfere with qualitative data.
Back to PA Monday Poster Sessions
Back to The Eleventh International Congress